Overtime goal lifts Wingers past Lake City

LAKE CITY – The Red Wing girls soccer team escaped from the Lake City Invitational Saturday with a 2-1 overtime victory against Lake City to finish third at the tournament.

The Wingers (3-9, 1-4 Missota) dropped their opening game of the tournament 3-1 to Winona and met the Tigers for the second time this season in the third-place match. Red Wing senior Sydney Zeig scored the lone goal in the loss on a free kick.

A fatigued Wingers team got an overtime goal from senior Kaitlin Bischoff in the second session of overtime to pick up a 2-1 victory in a sloppy game.

“It was a rough day,” Red Wing head coach Dusty Beckman said. “I think fatigue kicked in the second half.”

The Wingers held a 1-0 lead after Bischoff scored in the first half, but Lake City (2-11, 1-4 HVL) found the equalizer midway through the second half after a poor clearance attempt allowed Tigers sophomore Trista Bremer to gain possession and fire a shot onto a wide open net after Red Wing goalkeeper Sierra Furlong came off her line to pick up a loose ball near the top of the 18-yard box.

The goal marked one of the few times Lake City converted on its opportunities. Bremer had another opportunity later in the second half on a penalty kick but Furlong made a save on a shot directed right at her. A hand ball inside the 18-yard box by the Wingers set up the penalty kick attempt. The Tigers also missed on a penalty kick in the first half.

“We’ve been playing very well,” Lake City head coach Mark Spence said.

The Tigers just haven’t found the results they’re looking to find. Lake City dropped its first game of the tournament to Stewartville 1-0 and has played in five one-goal games. The Tigers’ record in those games is 1-4.

Both teams have struggled to finish throughout the season and it was never more apparent than on Saturday as both teams failed to capitalize on chances. Many of the quality opportunities ended up in shots right at opposing goalkeepers.

But Bischoff’s goal in overtime was a no-doubter from the minute it left her foot. Her shot from the right side of the 18-yard box with traffic in front hit the inside of the crossbar and dropped inside the net for the win.

“I have no idea how she got that ball in the goal,” Spence said.

Red Wing faces Chanhassen Thursday in Red Wing while Lake City faces Rochester Lourdes Thursday in Lake City.

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